NES Professional Development Web Seminars: Week of Mar. 17

As part of a series of electronic professional development experiences for educators, the NASA Explorer Schools project and the National Science Teachers Association are hosting a series of 90-minute live professional development Web seminars.

Engineering Design Challenge: Water Filtration
Date: March 18, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. EDT

Get background information about water recycling on the International Space Station, and then see how to incorporate the information into an exciting hands-on, inquiry-based challenge requiring students to solve a problem. The featured student activity provides many opportunities for incorporating national science, technology and mathematics learning standards into the curriculum as well as addressing middle school Next Generation Science Standards.

For more information and to register online, visit http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/NES4/webseminar13.aspx.

Electromagnetic Spectrum: Remote Sensing Ices on Mars
Date: March 20, 2014, at 6:30 p.m. EDT

Learn how to use authentic NASA mission data to investigate the composition and distribution of ice in the high-latitude regions of Mars through analysis of visible light, infrared light and gamma rays. The seminar includes information about a unique student extension activity, where students access a free computer simulation illustrating how gamma rays are used to determine the chemical composition of Mars.

The featured activity provides many opportunities for incorporating national science, technology and mathematics learning standards into the curriculum as well as addressing high school Next Generation Science Standards.

For more information and to register online, visit http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/NES4/webseminar9.aspx.

NES Webinar for Educators: Electromagnetic Spectrum: Remote Sensing Ices on Mars

odyssey-mission-medIn this web seminar for educators of students in grades 9–12, participants will learn how to guide students in using authentic mission data to investigate the composition and distribution of ices at the high latitude regions of Mars. Mar. 20 at 6:30 p.m. EST. For more information and register online visit the NSTA Learning Center.

Electromagnetic Spectrum: Remote Sensing Ices on Mars Professional Development Web Seminar

Professional Development Web Seminar

As part of a series of electronic professional development experiences, the NASA Explorer Schools project and the National Science Teachers Association are hosting a 90-minute Web seminar on Feb. 21, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. EST. Learn how to use authentic NASA mission data to investigate the composition and distribution of ices in the high-latitude regions of Mars through analysis of visible light, infrared light and gamma rays. The seminar includes information about a unique student extension activity, where students access a free computer simulation illustrating how gamma rays are used to determine the chemical composition of Mars.

This is the last time this Web seminar will be offered during the current school year.

For more information and to register online, visit the NSTA Learning Center.

Web Seminar for Educators: Mars Exploration–Is There Water on Mars?

Professional Development Web Seminar

As part of a series of electronic professional development experiences for grades 9-12 educators, the NASA Explorer Schools project and the National Science Teachers Association are hosting a 90-minute Web seminar on Dec. 17, 2012, at 6:30 p.m. EST. “Chemistry of Water: Mars Exploration – Is There Water on Mars?” is an inquiry-based lesson on how atmospheric pressure and vapor pressure affect the boiling point of water. See why the boiling point of water is pressure-dependent, rather than temperature-dependent. Then, by extension, you will deduce if there could be liquid water on Mars.

This seminar will be repeated on March 12, 2013.

For more information and to register online, visit http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/NES3/webseminar18.aspx.

Professional Development Web Seminar: Electromagnetic Spectrum: Remote Sensing Ices on Mars

Professional Development Web Seminar

NASA Explorer Schools project and the National Science Teachers Association are hosting a 90-minute professional development Web seminar for teachers of grades 8-12 on Oct. 4, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. EDT. Learn how to use authentic NASA mission data to investigate the composition and distribution of ices in the high-latitude regions of Mars through analysis of visible light, infrared light and gamma rays. The seminar includes information about a unique student extension activity, where students access a free computer simulation illustrating how gamma rays are used to determine the chemical composition of Mars.


For more information and to register online, visit http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/NES3/webseminar4.aspx.


Link to the NES Virtual Campus home page.


NASA Now: Electromagnetic Spectrum — NuSTAR

NASA Now logoAstrophysicist Ann Hornschemeier explains how NASA’s Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, uses high-energy X-rays to search for and take pictures of the densest, hottest and most energetic regions in the universe!


This program is available on the Virtual Campus beginning Feb. 2, 2012.

Preview this program



Arizona Students Relate Home to Mars

ArizonaNASA Explorer Schools educator Kaci Heins and students from Arizona participated in a lesson based on the Mars Student Imaging Project. Her students studied geographic features on Earth and then used NASA photos to learn more about geographic features on Mars. Students applied skills such as measurement and how to document observations as well as reinforcing their understanding of latitude and longitude.

A highlight of the lesson was students’ comparing many geographic features they saw on Mars to those in Arizona where there is a volcanic field with cinder cone, lava tubes, canyons, lava flows, a meteor crater impact site and composite volcanoes. This comparison provided a real-world connection between Mars and their own community.  

To find out more about the lesson, go to the Remote Sensing Ices on Mars forum in NEON.

Get Ready for the Launch of the Curiosity Rover

Artist concept of Curiosity rover on surface of MarsThe Curiosity rover is scheduled for launch to Mars on Nov. 25, 2011. To prepare for the launch, a telecon has been scheduled so you can hear about the many resources available for you to share the excitement of launch with your students. Topics during the telecon are:

   • Launch details: NASA TV rundown, scheduled press briefings and the Tweetup
   • Visuals: images and video
   • Educator professional development: workshops, telecons and presentations
   • Spacecraft models and other items for loan

Date: Monday, Oct. 10, 2011
Time: Noon PDT (3 p.m. EDT)
Call-in: 888-323-4924
Passcode: Museum
Leader: Anita Sohus

RESOURCES: Presentation materials will be posted prior to the telecon on the Museum Alliance website at: http://informal.jpl.nasa.gov/Guest/
Username: informal
Passcode: lifelong


NASA Now: Forces and Motion: Aerobraking — Entry, Descent, and Landing

NASA Now logo

Available beginning Aug. 31, 2011: Jill Prince explains aerobraking, a technique used by NASA to reduce the amount of fuel required to slow down a spacecraft moving at high speed as it approaches a planet. 



NASA Now Preview